Since the summer of 2021, district officials at Circleville City Schools (CVCS), along with the other county schools have been in constant communication with the Pickaway County Public Health Department (PCPH) regarding the interpretation of COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations as they pertain to keeping our students safe during the school year. Along with keeping up to date with our local agencies, CVCS also continuously reviews the latest information from both the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Keeping our Tigers safe is our number one priority.
What is the District doing?
With the help of the COVID-19 Community and Staff Advisory Council, the District has prepared a guide for best practices and procedures.
It is important to note that these district guidelines are subject to change based upon further local and state health mandates and increases to COVID-19 positivity trends in our county data.
Click the link below to view:
Masks on Campus
Masks will be optional for our Tigers. The Centers for Disease Control and ODH recommendations do remind us of the importance of mask wearing as a viable method for preventing the spread of COVID-19 even for the vaccinated. As always, if your student is experiencing symptoms or feeling unwell, please stay home to prevent further spread of illness.
Click the links below for more guidance on exposure:
Where can I get a COVID-19 test?
In the community there a few places beyond your child's medical provider to receive a proctored (supervised) COVID-19 test. First, the Pickaway County Library (1160 N Court St, Circleville, OH 43113) has walk in tests that are available. Beyond that, Nationwide Children's Hospital's Close to Home Urgent Care Centers also offer walk in tests for students. For a list of locations, click the link here.
Precautions Timeline
The following is a list of precautions the District has taken throughout the pandemic to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. These physical acts accompany district messaging and marketing efforts to request that students and staff mask up when exposed in order to prevent the spread at school, stay home if sick, and receive their vaccine if eligible.
August 4th, 2021 - Release of District Safety protocols
August 18th, 2021 - CMS/CHS start the year eating in classrooms to reduce close interactions during meals with large groups
August 20th, 2021 - Second County Superintendent’s Letter released informing families if data doesn’t change and masking/vaccines do not increase we may be forced to require masks in schools
August 23rd, 2021 - Administrators starts masking and Athletics asked to mask after hours
August 30th, 2021 - CMS ends club days where students collaborate in team groups
September 1st, 2021 - Staff requested to masked when they cannot socially distance with students and other staff
September 2nd, 2021 - CES starts eating in classrooms instead of cafeteria to reduce close interactions during meals with large groups; further reductions made in amount of small groupings of students in unified arts; In addition CVCS adopts September 1st, 2021 ODH guidance to maximize at least 3 feet of social distancing in classrooms and educational spaces.
January 28th, 2022-In alignment with ODH and the PCPH, CVCS adopts the updated COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing recommendations. (Read the release here)